men of iron-第6章

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s　good　and　maybe　better　than　I　be；　and　that　if　I　do　not　serve　them　I　get　knocked　i'　th'　head　therefore；　which　same　goeth　soothly　against　my　stomach。〃

〃I　judge　not　for　thee；〃　said　Myles。　〃Thou　art　used　to　these　castle　ways；　but　only　I　know　that　I　will　not　serve　them；　though　they　be　thirty　against　me　instead　of　thirteen。〃

〃Then　thou　art　a　fool；〃　said　Gascoyne；　dryly。

Now　in　this　matter　of　service　there　was　one　thing　above　all　others　that　stirred　Myles　Falworth's　ill…liking。　The　winter　before　he　had　come　to　Devlen；　Walter　Blunt；　who　was　somewhat　of　a　Sybarite　in　his　way；　and　who　had　a　repugnance　to　bathing　in　the　general　tank　in　the　open　armory　court　in　frosty　weather；　had　had　Dick　Carpenter　build　a　trough　in　the　corner　of　the　dormitory　for　the　use　of　the　bachelors；　and　every　morning　it　was　the　duty　of　two　of　the　younger　squires　to　bring　three　pails　of　water　to　fill　this　private　tank　for　the　use　of　the　head　esquires。　It　was　seeing　two　of　his　fellow…esquires　fetching　and　carrying　this　water　that　Myles　disliked　so　heartily；　and　every　morning　his　bile　was　stirred　anew　at　the　sight。

〃Sooner　would　I　die　than　yield　to　such　vile　service；〃　said　he。

He　did　not　know　how　soon　his　protestations　would　be　put　to　the　test。

One　nightit　was　a　week　or　two　after　Myles　had　come　to　DevlenBlunt　was　called　to　attend　the　Earl　at　livery。　The　livery　was　the　last　meal　of　the　day；　and　was　served　with　great　pomp　and　ceremony　about　nine　o'clock　at　night　to　the　head　of　the　house　as　he　lay　in　bed。　Curfew　had　not　yet　rung；　and　the　lads　in　the　squires'　quarters　were　still　wrestling　and　sparring　and　romping　boisterously　in　and　out　around　the　long　row　of　rude　cots　in　the　great　dormitory　as　they　made　ready　for　the　night。　Six　or　eight　flaring　links　in　wrought…iron　brackets　that　stood　out　from　the　wall　threw　a　great　ruddy　glare　through　the　barrack…like　room　a　light　of　all　others　to　romp　by。　Myles　and　Gascoyne　were　engaged　in　defending　the　passage…way　between　their　two　cots　against　the　attack　of　three　other　lads；　and　Myles　held　his　sheepskin　coverlet　rolled　up　into　a　ball　and　balanced　in　his　hand；　ready　for　launching　at　the　head　of　one　of　the　others　so　soon　as　it　should　rise　from　behind　the　shelter　of　a　cot。　Just　then　Walter　Blunt；　dressed　with　more　than　usual　care；　passed　by　on　his　way　to　the　Earl's　house。　He　stopped　for　a　moment　and　said；　〃Mayhaps　I　will　not　be　in　until　late　to…night。　Thou　and　Falworth；　Gascoyne；　may　fetch　water　to…morrow。

Then　he　was　gone。　Myles　stood　staring　after　his　retreating　figure　with　eyes　open　and　mouth　agape；　still　holding　the　ball　of　sheepskin　balanced　in　his　hand。　Gascoyne　burst　into　a　helpless　laugh　at　his　blank；　stupefied　face；　but　the　next　moment　he　laid　his　hand　on　his　friend's　shoulder。

〃Myles；〃　he　said；　〃thou　wilt　not　make　trouble；　wilt　thou？〃

Myles　made　no　answer。　He　flung　down　his　sheepskin　and　sat　him　gloomily　down　upon　the　side　of　the　cot。

〃I　said　that　I　would　sooner　die　than　fetch　water　for　them；〃　said　he。

〃Aye；　aye；〃　said　Gascoyne；　〃but　that　was　spoken　in　haste。〃

Myles　said　nothing；　but　shook　his　head。

But；　after　all；　circumstances　shape　themselves。　The　next　morning　when　he　rose　up　through　the　dark　waters　of　sleep　it　was　to　feel　some　one　shaking　him　violently　by　the　shoulder。

〃Come！〃　cried　Gascoyne；　as　Myles　opened　his　eyes〃come；　time　passeth；　and　we　are　late。〃

Myles；　bewildered　with　his　sudden　awakening；　and　still　fuddled　with　the　fumes　of　sleep；　huddled　into　his　doublet　and　hose；　hardly　knowing　what　he　was　doing；　tying　a　point　here　and　a　point　there；　and　slipping　his　feet　into　his　shoes。　Then　he　hurried　after　Gascoyne；　frowzy；　half…dressed；　and　even　yet　only　half…awake。　It　was　not　until　he　was　fairly　out　into　the　fresh　air　and　saw　Gascoyne　filling　the　three　leathern　buckets　at　the　tank；　that　he　fully　awakened　to　the　fact　that　he　was　actually　doing　that　hateful　service　for　the　bachelors　which　he　had　protested　he　would　sooner　die　than　render。

The　sun　was　just　rising；　gilding　the　crown　of　the　donjon…keep　with　a　flame　of　ruddy　light。　Below；　among　the　lesser　buildings；　the　day　was　still　gray　and　misty。　Only　an　occasional　noise　broke　the　silence　of　the　early　morning：　a　cough　from　one　of　the　rooms；　the　rattle　of　a　pot　or　a　pan；　stirred　by　some　sleepy　scullion；　the　clapping　of　a　door　or　a　shutter；　and　now　and　then　the　crowing　of　a　cock　back　of　the　long　row　of　stablesall　sounding　loud　and　startling　in　the　fresh　dewy　stillness。

〃Thou　hast　betrayed　me；〃　said　Myles；　harshly；　breaking　the　silence　at　last。　〃I　knew　not　what　I　was　doing；　or　else　I　would　never　have　come　hither。　Ne'theless；　even　though　I　be　come；　I　will　not　carry　the　water　for　them。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　said　Gascoyne；　tartly。　〃An　thou　canst　not　stomach　it；　let　be；　and　I　will　e'en　carry　all　three　myself。　It　will　make　me　two　journeys；　but；　thank　Heaven；　I　am　not　so　proud　as　to　wish　to　get　me　hard　knocks　for　naught。〃　So　saying；　he　picked　up　two　of　the　buckets　and　started　away　across　the　court　for　the　dormitory。

Then　Myles；　with　a　lowering　face；　snatched　up　the　third；　and；　hurrying　after；　gave　him　his　hand　with　the　extra　pail。　So　it　was　that　he　came　to　do　service；　after　all。

〃Why　tarried　ye　so　long？〃　said　one　of　the　older　bachelors；　roughly；　as　the　two　lads　emptied　the　water　into　the　wooden　trough。　He　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　cot；　blowzed　and　untrussed；　with　his　long　hair　tumbled　and　disordered。

His　dictatorial　tone　stung　Myles　to　fury。　〃We　tarried　no　longer　than　need　be；〃　answered　he；　savagely。　〃Have　we　wings　to　fly　withal　at　your　bidding？〃

He　spoke　so　loudly　that　all　in　the　room　heard　him；　the　younger　squires　who　were　dressing　stared　in　blank　amazement；　and　Blunt　sat　up　suddenly　in　his　cot。

〃Why；　how　now？〃　he　cried。　〃Answerest　thou　back　thy　betters　so　pertly；　sirrah？　By　my　soul；　I　have　a　mind　to　crack　thy　head　with　this　clog　for　thy　unruly　talk。〃

He　glared　at　Myles　as　he　spoke；　and　Myles　glared　back　again　with　right　good…will。　Matters　might　have　come　to　a　crisis；　only　that　Gascoyne　and　Wilkes　dragged　their　friend　away　before　he　had　opportunity　to　answer。

〃An　ill…conditioned　knave　as　ever　I　did　see；〃　growled　Blunt；　glaring　after　him。

〃Myles；　Myles；〃　said　Gascoyne；　almost　despairingly；　〃why　wilt　thou　breed　such　mischief　for　thyself？　Seest　thou　not　thou　hast　got　thee　the　ill…will　of　every　one　of　the　bachelors；　from　Wat　Blunt　to　Robin　de　Ramsey？〃

〃I　care　not；〃　said　Myles；　fiercely；　recurring　to　his　grievance。　〃Heard　ye　not　how　the　dogs　upbraided　me　before　the　whole　room？　That　Blunt　called　me　an　ill…conditioned　knave。〃

〃Marry！〃　said　Gascoyne；　laughing；　〃and　so　thou　art。〃

Thus　it　is　that　boldness　may　breed　one　enemies　as　well　as　gain　one　friends。　My　own　notion　is　that　one's　enemies　are　more　quick　to　act　than　one's　friends。



CHAPTER　8

Every　one　knows　the　disagreeable；　lurking　discomfort　that　follows　a　quarrela　discomfort　that　imbitters　the　very　taste　of　life　for　the　time　being。　Such　was　the　dull　distaste　that　Myles　felt　that　morning　after　what　had　passed　in　the　dormitory。　Every　one　in　the　proximity　of　such　an　open　quarrel　feels　a　reflected　constraint；　and　in　Myles's　mind　was　a　disagreeable　doubt　whether　that　constraint　meant　disapproval　of　him　or　of　his　late　enemies。

It　seemed　to　him　that　Gascoyne　added　the　last　bitter　twang　to　his　unpleasant　feelings　when；　half　an　hour　later；　they　marched　with　the　others　to　chapel。

〃Why　dost　thou　breed　such　trouble　for　thyself；　Myles？〃　said　he；　recurring　to　what　he　had　already　said。　〃Is　it　not　foolish　for　thee　to　come　hither　to　this　place；　and　then　not　submit　to　the　ways　thereof；　as　the　rest　of　us　do？〃

〃Thou　talkest　not　like　a　true　friend　to　chide　me　thus；〃　said　Myles；　sullenly；　and　he　withdrew　his　arm　from　his　friend's。

〃Marry；　come　up！〃　said　Gascoyne；　〃an　I　were　not　thy　friend；　I　would　let　thee　jog　thine　own　way。　It　aches　not　my　bones　to　have　thine　drubbed。〃

Just　then　they　entered　the　chapel；　and　words　that　might　have　led　to　a　quarrel　were　brought　to　a　close。

Myles　was　not　slow　to　see　that　he　had　the　ill　will　of　the　head　of　their　company。　That　morning　in　the　armory　he　had　occasion　to　ask　some　question　of　Blunt；　the　head　squire　stared　coldly　at　him　for　a　moment；　gave　him　a　short；　gruff　answer；　and　then；　turning　his　back　abruptly；　began　talking　with　one　of　the　other　bachelors。　Myles　flushed　hot　at　the　other's　insulting　manner；　and　looked　quickly　around　to　see　if　any　of　the　others　had　observed　what　had　passed。　It　was　a　comfort　to　him　to　see　that　all　were　too　busy　arming　themselves　to　think　of　anything　else；　nevertheless；　his　face　was　very　lowering　as　he　turned　away。

〃Some　day　I　will　show　him　that　I　am　as　good　a　man　as　he；〃　he　muttered　to　himself。　〃An　evil…　hearted　dog　to　put　shame　upon　me！〃

The　storm　was　brewing　and　ready　to　break。


That　day　was　exceptionally　hot　and　close；　and　permission　had　been　asked　by　and　granted　to　those　squires　not　on　duty　to　go　down　to　the　river　for　a　bath　after　exercise　at　the　pels。　But　as　Myles　replaced　his　arms　in　the　rack；　a　little　page　came　with　a　bidding　to　come　to　Sir　James　in　his　office。

〃Look　now；〃　said　Myles；　〃here　is　just　my　ill…　fortune。　Why　might　he　not　have　waited　an　hour　longer　rather　than　cause　me　to　miss　going　with　ye？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Gascoyne；　〃let　not　that　grieve　thee；　Myles。　Wilkes　and　I　will　wait　for　thee　in　the　dormitorywill　we　not；　Edmund？　Make　thou　haste　and　go　to　Sir　James。〃

Sir　James　was　sitting　at　the　table　studying　over　a　scroll　of　parchment；　when　Myles　entered　his　office　and　stood　before　him　at　the　table。

〃Well；　boy；〃　said　he；　laying　aside　the　parchment　and　looking　up　at　the　lad；　〃I　have　tried　thee　fairly　for　these　few　days；　and　may　say　that　I　have　found　thee　worthy　to　be　entered　upon　the　rolls　as　esquire　of　the　body。〃

〃I　give　thee　thanks；　sir；〃　said　Myles。

The　knight　nodded　his　head　in　acknowledgement；　but　did　not　at　once　give　the　word　of　dismissal　that　Myles　had　expected。　〃Dost　mean　to　write　thee　a　letter　home　soon？〃　said　he；　suddenly。

〃Aye；〃　said　Myles；　gaping　in　great　wonderment　at　the　strangeness　of　the　question。

〃Then　when　thou　dost　so　write；〃　said　Sir　James；　〃give　thou　my　deep　regards　to　thy　father。〃　Then　he　continued；　after　a　brief　pause。　〃Him　did　I　know　well　in　times　gone　by；　and　we　were　right　true　friends　in　hearty　love；　and　for　his　sake　I　would　befriend　theethat　is；　in　so　much　as　is　fitting。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　Myles；　but　Sir　James　held　up　his　hand；　and　he　stopped　short　in　his　thanks。

〃But；　boy；〃　said　he；　〃that　which　I　sent　for　thee　for　to　tell　thee　was　of　more　import　than　these。　Dost　thou　know　that　thy　father　is　an　attainted　outlaw？〃

〃Nay；〃　cried　Myles；　his　cheeks　blazing　up　as　red　as　fire；　〃who　sayeth　that　of　him　lieth　in　his　teeth。〃

〃Thou　dost　mistake　me；〃　said　Sir　James；　quietly。　〃It　is　sometimes　no　shame　to　be　outlawed　and　banned。　Had　it　been　so；　I　would　not　have　told　thee　thereof；　nor　have　bidden　thee　send　my　true　love　to　thy　father；　as　I　did　but　now。　But；　boy；　certes　he　standest　continually　in　great　danger　greater　than　thou　wottest　of。　Were　it　known　where　he　lieth　hid；　it　might　be　to　his　undoing　and　utter　ruin。　Methought　that　belike　thou　mightest　not　know　that；　and　so　I　sent　for　thee　for　to　tell　thee　that　it　behoovest　thee　to　say　not　one　single　word　concerning　him　to　any　of　these　new　friends　of　thine；　nor　who　he　is；　nor　what　he　is。〃

〃But　how　came　my　father　to